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April 28, 2009

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Cillizza reports an early skirmish between the GOP base and a would-be modernizer:

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. ... was also supposed to make a fourth appearance [in Michigan], but Kent County Chairwoman Joanne Voorhees canceled the event on Monday.

"After conducting further research on the Governor and his change in position on issues, we feel it is best to cancel our event," wrote Vorhees in an email obtained by the Fix. She added that "voters want and expect us to stand on principle and return to our roots . . . unfortunately, by holding an event with Governor Huntsman, we would be doing the exact opposite."

The response:

Advisers to Huntsman cast the Kent County decision as typifying the divide the wrongheaded attitude of some within the party who believe the GOP most grow more conservative in order to prosper. Worth noting: the trend for Republicans in Kent is not promising; former president George W. Bush carried it by 55,000 votes in 2004 but last November President Barack Obama won it by 1,600 votes.

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This isn't surprising. The GOP in Kent County (Grand Rapids) is reducing itself to its militant Dutch Reformed core. The Dutch Calvinists are every bit as extremist as Jerry Falwell or hardcore Mormons or James Dobson. Unfortunately for the Dutch Calvinists, they are a decidedly tribal bunch and have a tendency to turn non-Dutch Reformists off to their politics.
The Michigan GOP succeeds when it runs a Catholic or mainline Protestant with appeal in suburban Detroit but who can rally voters in the Calvinist belt around Grand Rapids (Ottawa County particularly). John Engler fit this bill perfectly. Dick DeVos showed what happened when you are identified too much with Western Michigan right-wing extremism.
It seems the Dutch-dominated Kent GOP wants to cement its control there, which will only further the decline of the Michigan GOP.

funny trying to get votes with using Jesus man made religion--this government is not God's government at all. God has his own Government and Kingdom that will come and is here with Jesus Christ who came to start the Government of God, built God's Kingdom..........................God said: He is coming to judge the Leaders of the Nations--- God forbid His Church and it is written that Church is not-- yes not to callaberate with government period!!..that is sin-disobedience...hmmmm wonder why??----------------- Jesus called the Roman Empire hypocrites and it fell!! So did the British, So did King Herod, King Pharoah etc ---only one Kingdom Government will exist in the end, forever and we already know it is victorious over Evil.....That is King David and Jesus sits on the Throne has King forever over God's Government...Jesus is our King right now our government--all who believe and obey and follow the laws Ten commandments of God his Kingdom His Government...

Unbelievable. Did Ms. Voorhees not get the memo? When a Democrat wins WESTERN MICHIGAN, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. The Democratic Party should send a thank you note to tin-eared Joanne Voorhees. Ms. Voorhees is no doubt sitting comfortably in her Michigan mansion believing that she's "sticking to her knitting." And what she's really doing is helping to drive the last few nails into the coffin of Reagan's Party.

Grand Rapids is as close to the Deep South as one gets in the Midwest. But the fact that the GOP leaders there don't get it is remarkable. Barack Obama won Kent County. That is an amazing statement. Truly stunning. And yet the insular GOP there apparently thinks Obama won because, well, McCain wasn't a "real" Republican.

Pres Obama was speaking the truth when crises hit, hard times, trials an tribulations, sorrow people do turn back to God real fast like this flu pandemic and other people do cling to their guns out of fear for a number of different reasons..like that man who killed how many 11 people because he had no job and people he said laughing at him..truth hurts but it was a "truthful statement" look how people cling to their guns if they think their guns will be taken away...this fear is not because they cannot hunt..I cling to my God always daily and pray pray pray when sorrow hits or things like this flu...God is in charge and we will come to know that the hard way..for some the only time they turn to God is when sorrow hits and then ask why..God puts us all in reality real fast...just mere mortals and we cannot even save our selves...Yes God is in Charge..do not boast for all have received...God is the one who gives and God is the one who takes it away...

I am a Catholic and vote for Pres Obama..no one on earth is my God but God himself..in whom I trust...Pres Obama is a man of morals dignity faith and believes in Jesus and his actions works words show that more then any republblican as far as abortion or gays I pray for them for they themselves will be judged...rather I try to spread the gospels like we are commanded to do...to judge others only brings burning coals upon my own head....Why is it that other civilized Nations do not use Jesus or abortion or gays as their political plateform???? only republicans who judge themselves as HOLIER THEN THOUS--playing God are they? hypocrites..Does God hates liars?..Remember God threw the great deceiver liar Satan out of his Government his Kingdom and those who followed and obeyed Satan!...we are living in that dark Kingdom--but when Jesus came brought finally light into the world of darkness..evil its end will come and we will all know it...God has been long patience waiting not to lose one soul...But God's time is here..now --our time will end..

"Republicans lose swing vote with Abortion stand- they can regain sw0ingers w/ low taxes- small governmnent- American values of liberty and freedom"

Republicans DO NOT value liberty and freedom. If they did, they wouldn't be ardently anti-gay, anti-choice, they wouldn't think it's OK to break the law and torture people, they wouldn't support wiretapping without warrants, unlimited executive power (but of course only when they have the Presidency), etc, etc. In a right-wing mind, cheaper and wider reaching health care equals taking away freedom, which is totally retarded. Just know, that's what a right-winger is talking about when they say they are for "freedom".

I am a Catholic also and Obama was schooled by the Rev. Wright's hatefulness. America is different from any other country on this planet- Some cannot except this and want to destroy it. (Obama) Others feel that America is truly the model for the rest of the world to follow; and will fight for thge right to remain FREE.

Yep, that's real smart Joanne, Huntsman is about the only republican I can stand to listen to and you diss him. Good going, if you guys think you are going to win any seats anytime soon, you better start looking at yourselves in the mirror. Right now you are the party of no ideas, religous right wing zealots, bigots, homophobes, and I don't know everything else that is bad in america. Oh, yeah, I forgot you've also become the party of cop killers. How many cops have been killed in the last month because nutcases on the right were convinced by rightwing nuts that Obama was hiding their eyewash or going to take their guns away? Cop killing gop!

Rev Wright was not all that wrong in his statements which were taken out of context period..truth hurts and Jesus was tortured also by the Roman Empire and it fell for they to were spreading their evil lies of haterd slander etc toward Jesus...............God does not bless evil works--and if Moses Gods faithful servant and King David were punished for their sins what are you saying we are all HOLY please..hatefulness is not slavery where killed also by a civilized nations calling themselves Christians? will let God decide and judge America that answer...Do not boast God said..For all have received..and those who have been given much WILL HAVE MUCH TO ANSWER FOR...

Its amusing to see democrats try to shape their liberal utopia from this great republic's framework built upon the traditional family structure and years of prosperous capitalism. And yes defending liberty and freedom from other nations who would otherwise impose their tyranny on unprotected people. But go ahead- ruin this decent country if it helps you get a better feeling about yourselves and triumph over bad Republicans.

Modernizing and GOP don't belong in the same sentence. The very premise of the Republican Party is that things right now are very bad and immoral and dark and scary and that we need to go back to the good ol' days of the 1950s (oh, except for the 90% tax rate of the 1950s -- go back to the 1980s on that one).

Now Arlen Specter's leaving the GOP... The ladies of Maine will be next.
By excommunicating moderates, Rush, the Fox Boys and the rest of the AM radio Nazis are causing the Republican party to devolve into nothing more than a domestic terrorist organization.

I am sorry "we are the good guys", but your historical view is either skewed or just not researched. It is you who is trying to drive our nation into oblivion, because if every citizen had decent paying jobs, decent health benifits, who would wash your SUVs for you? Nice try buddy! Have fun living life in a fringe party! Hahaha!

My God, I feel like I'm watching Republican leaders eat themselves to death. They're going to be about as relevant as monarchists are today in France. Unfortunately, many GOP have more in common with French monarchists than they do with their forbears. Can you imagine the GOP today nominating a Unitarian like Taft? I'm a Republican but the party is going crazy. I'm starting to think about switching to the Libertarians.

"We Are The Good Guys said: this great republic's framework built upon the traditional family structure and years of prosperous capitalism."
Really? What's traditional family? 12 kids and a wife who died in childbirth? Spare not the rod discipline? Illegitimate children with slave women?
And, last time I took a Constitution class, I was led to believe that the "framework" of this great republic was Freedom and Liberty for all. Along with that whole "Pursuit of Happiness" deal.
Disallowing civil rights to ANYONE within our borders is a flagrant violation of those pillars of our country.
/Former Republican